Cancer 1907

Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis made ‘Cancer’ with tempera on paper. It’s a painting that feels like a cosmic ruin, but also, kind of tender? The texture here is key; Ciurlionis builds up the image with small, deliberate strokes, almost like he’s knitting the universe together one tiny stitch at a time. There’s a real push and pull between the flat surface of the paper and the illusion of depth. The colors are muted, earthy—browns, blues, a touch of gold. It's a palette that feels ancient, like looking at a fresco that’s been slowly fading for centuries. Check out the circle of stars at the top. They’re not just floating up there; they’re carefully placed, each one a little point of light in the gathering darkness. It reminds me of Hilma af Klint, who was also reaching for something beyond the visible world with her paintings. Both artists invite us to see the world not as a fixed reality, but as something fluid, mysterious, and always open to interpretation.